Benefits of rosemary oil

Rosemary is a green shrub with needle-like leaves and a woody aroma. Although known as a food spice, rosemary is also one of the most popular medicinal and medicinal plants worldwide. Rosemary essential oil is extracted and sold in small bottles and has been used extensively in medicine since ancient times.

1. Improve brain function

In ancient Greece and Rome, rosemary was believed to have memory-enhancing abilities. Research shows that inhaling rosemary oil helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical that plays an important role in thinking, concentration, and memory.

Research shows that when 20 young adults are asked math questions in a small room diffused with rosemary oil, the speed and accuracy of the answers increase in direct proportion to the time it takes the oil to diffuse.

Another study found that inhaling rosemary and other essential oils could improve brain function in older adults with dementia, including those with Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Strengthen hair growth

One of the most common types of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, although it can also affect women. Rosemary oil treats androgenetic hair loss by preventing testosterone from attacking the hair follicles.

When men with androgenetic hair loss diluted rosemary oil and applied it to the scalp twice daily for six months, they noticed the same increase in hair thickness as those using minoxidil (Rogaine). , a popular hair regrowth remedy.

Additionally, people using rosemary oil reported less scalp itching than when using minoxidil. Another study indicates that rosemary oil can fight hair loss, a condition that affects half the population under the age of 21 and about 20% of those over the age of 40.

When people with hair loss applied a small amount of rosemary essential oil blend to the scalp every day for seven months, 44% of users showed an improvement in hair loss compared to only 15% in the control group, who used hair loss. Use neutral jojoba and grapefruit oils.

Read: How to use rosemary oil for hair growth

3. Pain relief

In folk medicine, rosemary is used as a mild pain reliever

In a two-week study, people recovering from a stroke with shoulder pain were given a mixture of rosemary oil and acupressure for 20 minutes, twice daily, for 30 minutes. %.

Those who only received acupressure without oil had a 15% reduction in pain. Additionally, an animal study determined that rosemary oil was slightly more effective at reducing pain than acetaminophen, a popular over-the-counter pain reliever.

4. Reduce stress

One study found that when nursing students inhaled rosemary oil from an inhaler before and during the trial, their pulse dropped by about 9% – while no significant change occurred when not using it. rosemary oil.

In addition, when 22 young adults sniffed rosemary oil for 5 minutes, their saliva had 23% lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Increased cortisol levels can suppress the immune system, causing insomnia and mood swings.

5. Increase blood flow

Poor circulation is a common condition. If a client experiences cold fingers and toes, even in relatively warm ambient temperatures, rosemary oil can be a solution.

In one study, a woman with Raynaud’s disease, a circulation impairment who massaged her hands with a blend of rosemary oil, found that this oil warmed her fingers more than another neutral oil. Rosemary oil can aid blood circulation by widening blood vessels, making it easier for blood to flow to your fingers and toes.

6. Reduce Arthritis

Preliminary evidence suggests that rosemary oil may help reduce tissue inflammation that can lead to swelling, pain, and stiffness. Rosemary oil helps by blocking the migration of white blood cells to damaged tissues to release inflammatory chemicals.

When people with rheumatoid arthritis received a 15-minute knee massage using a rosemary oil blend three times per week, they experienced a 50% reduction in knee pain in two weeks, compared with a 12% reduction in those with rheumatoid arthritis. do not use oil.

7. Other effects

Anti-cancer: Rosemary oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which test-tube studies have shown to fight cancer cells

Liver and Digestive System Support: Animal studies indicate that rosemary oil can stimulate the release of bile, which is important in the digestion of fats and activates antioxidant defenses that protect the liver. liver guard

Prevent food poisoning: Rosemary oil can help inhibit the growth of certain strains of bacteria that cause food poisoning.
Reduce antibiotic side effects: Rosemary and other essential oils may increase the effectiveness of some antibiotics. This can allow users to use low doses thereby reducing side effects

Fight antibiotic resistance: Rosemary and other essential oils can weaken the cell walls of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

8. Usage

The easiest way to inhale rosemary oil is to open the container and inhale it directly or you can put a few drops on a cloth or tissue and hold it close to your nose. Many people use aromatherapy diffusers to enrich the surrounding air.

Rosemary and other essential oils can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream when you apply them to the skin. After diluting rosemary oil, users can apply the oil to the bottom of their feet or desired body parts to reduce painful inflammation while improving blood flow.

Care should be taken to avoid applying rosemary and other essential oils to damaged skin or near sensitive areas, such as the eyes. Also should not be used for pregnant women, people with epilepsy, or high blood pressure.

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